As a seasoned film enthusiast with over five decades of movie-watching under my belt, I can confidently say that John Waters‘ top 10 list for 2024 is nothing short of a cinematic rollercoaster ride. With a career steeped in the bizarre and the beautiful, it’s no surprise that his tastes run off the beaten path.
By the end of 2024, movie enthusiasts and experts start compiling their top picks for the year. Always, there’s a list-defining film that stands out, seemingly mismatched among its counterparts. This anomaly is indeed true for John Waters, often referred to as the “Pope of Trash,” who has crafted unique and sometimes off-putting movies such as Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, and Serial Mom.
The filmmaker released his annual top 10 list via Vulture, and amid some of the more expected titles, coming in at number six is Todd Phillips’ much-maligned musical sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. It’s not impossible, but the likelihood the vehicle for Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga will make many any other best-of lists this year is pretty slim. It boasts both a 32% critics and audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with Glenn Kenney of RogerEbert.com saying “the wafer-thin story amounts to the same nihilistic slop that Phillips served up in the first Joker, albeit remixed, genre-wise.”
And yet, Waters disagrees vehemently. He writes of the film:
In the end, a love story that feels familiar to me. It’s mind-blowing, meticulously planned, skillfully executed, and filled with intense drama – it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!
Could it be that both critics and viewers are perhaps overthinking the movie? Might Joker: Folie à Deux secretly offer an enjoyable, dark rollercoaster ride reminiscent of a carnival? Or is it possible that when it comes to personal preferences, there’s simply no way to predict what will appeal to everyone?
Waters’s List is a Blend of Recognizable and Off-the-Beaten-Path Films
Besides the movie “Joker“, there are several distinct and engaging films on Waters’s list. His top choice is “Love Lies Bleeding“, the second film from writer-director Rose Glass who made “Saint Maud“. Waters describes it as a “funny, bloody film noir… one that Russ Meyer might have created if he had been a lesbian intellectual hooked on steroids.
Regarding Luca Guadagnino’s movie “Queer“, Waters labeled Daniel Craig as a “queerbait” for portraying William S. Burroughs’ gay alter ego. However, he praised the film as a whole, expressing his admiration by saying, “If today’s LGBTQ+ individuals were as radical as this, I would feel much more content being a part of this community.” He also appreciated Nicole Kidman’s performance in “Babygirl“, stating that “even straight actors are pushing boundaries this year.
Critic Waters singled out a few lesser-known films for praise this year, such as “Messy,” described as “sparkling, bold, clever, and passionate”; “Femme,” which delves into a complex S&M romance; and “Viet and Nam,” directed by Truong Minh Quy. This film managed to displace Sean Baker’s “Anora,” Pedro Almodóvar’s English debut “The Room Next Door,” and the latest from Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, “Rumours,” on Waters’ top 10 list.
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2024-12-07 02:03